Updates: polution; hunting; animal slaughter; climate change

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Air pollution dementia risk

Pollution has a grave effect on human well-being, especially after being the cause of dementia and possibly Alzheimer's disease

Polluted air could be linked to an increased risk of dementia, and stricter air quality measures are called for to prevent conditions such as Alzheimer's, which have afflicted millions of Americans, according to a report by Bloomberg citing Harvard research.

Dementia was numerously associated with high levels of fine particles in the air, according to researchers at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health who analyzed 14 earlier studies. The association between particle levels and dementia remained even when they were below the US Environmental Protection Agency standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

There is no known cure for dementia, which affects 57 million people globally, including the 6 million people who live with Alzheimer's disease in the US alone. According to Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard who contributed to the study that was published on Wednesday in the BMJ medical journal, even a decrease in annual levels of just 2 micrograms per cubic meter should result in lower dementia rates.

The EPA proposed changing its annual fine particulate matter standards to between 9 to 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air in January, down from the current 12 micrograms. The requirements are less strict in other nations, such as the UK. According to Berkeley Earth scientists, smoking one cigarette per day is approximately equivalent to a level of 22 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is made up of particles that are about 30% the diameter of a human strand. According to the EPA, their tiny size enables them to enter the blood and settle deeply in the lungs. Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with a number of illnesses, including lung cancer, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as premature death.

The average annual PM2.5 amount recommended by the World Health Organization should be less than 5 micrograms, but almost the entire world's population breathes air that is above those limits. Even though its estimated impact was smaller than for factors like smoking, Weisskopf said particulate matter is a concerning risk factor for dementia due to the broad scope of pollution exposure.

Other pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide may also increase the chance of developing dementia, but these links may not be as strong because there are fewer studies to support them. “Everybody has to breathe, so everybody is exposed to this,” Weisskopf said. “The population-level effect could actually be quite large because the number of people exposed is massive."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... arvard-rep

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Ocean surface temperatures rising

Sattelite data reveal that ocean surface temperatures are at a record high and scientists expect further rises as the El Nino pattern takes over later in the year

The world’s ocean surface temperature has reached its highest historical levels since satellites began taking records of the indicator, according to US government data.

This has caused marine heat waves worldwide. Scientists say that the average temperature at the ocean’s surface has been at a record 21.1° C since the beginning of April. The previous record was set at 21° C in 2016.

Climate experts such as Professor Mathew England of the University of New South Wales believe that the current trajectory will head off the charts and “smash previous records.”

Scientists say La Nina, an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon that spreads over the tropical Pacific, has helped suppress global temperatures.

However, a counter-temperature wave is currently on the rise following a historical pattern in the tropical Pacific climate. The El Nino pattern, expected to commence later this year is set to fully reveal the effects of increased greenhouse emissions around the world.

Scientists speculate the risk of extreme weather conditions and a further increase in global heat records.

Dr. Mike PcPhaden, a senior research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), stated, “The recent ‘triple dip’ La Nina has come to an end. This prolonged period of cold was tamping down global mean surface temperatures despite the rise of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.”

The previous record for the hottest surface ocean temperatures coincided with the El Nino pattern that occurred between 2014 and 2016, according to the Noaa data.

Studies show that more than 90% of the extra heat on planet Earth is due to the consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation.

“What we are seeing now is the emergence of a warming signal that more clearly reveals the footprint of our increased interference with the climate system,” said Professor England.

Dr. Alex Sen Gupta, an associate professor at the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre, revealed that satellite data showed that temperature rises on the ocean surface have been “almost linear” since the 1980s on the ocean surface.

Dr. Sen Gupta said that he is surprised that the world has experienced warm temperatures despite the cool La Nina pattern. He also pointed out how “it is now warmer still and we are getting what looks like record temperatures.”

Currently, moderate to strong marine heatwaves have been observed in several regions, such as the southern Indian Ocean, the south Atlantic, off north-west Africa, around New Zealand, off the northeast of Australia, and the west of Central America.

Hotter oceans will increase the energy of storms and will put ice sheets at risk of melting which would push up global sea levels.

The heatwaves can also devastate marine wildlife and destroy coral reefs.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... -on-a-risi

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Erbil stray dogs

Erbil’s stray dogs are expected to be placed in a large shelter within the next three months, the city’s mayor told Rudaw on Sunday, with the project receiving mixed reactions from animal rights advocates

Over 450 million Iraqi dinars have been allocated to the construction of the shelter, with the building set to be completed by June, according to Erbil Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid.

“We are working very fast on building the shelter. Once that part is completed, we will begin the second phase in the process which is transferring the dogs to the location and scientifically neutering them to stop reproduction,” Erbil Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid told Rudaw’s Lamia Rasul on Sunday.

Animal rights advocates recommend dogs be captured, neutered, and released as the most humane way of controlling the population.

Nuri Gardi, an animal rights advocate, believed the shelter could have dire consequences as combining a large number of dogs in such spaces might lead them to fight each other.

The Erbil provincial council is set to address the issue of stray dogs in the city on Monday, as it has become a major point of discontent among the public due to recent increase of dog-related injuries.

At least nine people were hospitalized in Erbil on Thursday, on account of being bitten by stray dogs.

There are over 300 thousand stray dogs in the Kurdistan Region, according to the Sulaimani-based Kurdistan Green Party, which also reported at least 124 dog-related injuries in Erbil during March.

Over the years, various cities have tried different tactics to address the problem. In the Shingal area, officials and veterinarians poisoned hundreds of dogs in 2021. Later that same year, Kirkuk tackled the problem with guns - shooting dogs dead. Several shelters exist, but last year dozens died when a virus swept through a Sulaimani centre.

The large number of stray dogs in Kurdistan Region cities is a frequent concern and efforts to control the population have been criticized by animal rights organizations.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/090420232

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Tiger population in India over 3,000

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the wild tiger currently survives in scattered habitats in 13 countries and the census shows a jump from 2,967 to 3,167 just in India

The largest wild tiger population has gone over 3,000 in India, per a Sunday census, which shows a boost in the conservation efforts for this endangered species which has lost more than 93% of its historic numbers over the past century.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the wild tiger currently survives in scattered habitats in 13 countries and the census shows a jump from 2,967 to 3,167 in just India.

Although the rate of increase has slowed to less than 7% over the past four years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the new number a "proud moment".

During a ceremony in the southern city of Mysuru, Modi said, "Our family is expanding," adding, "This is a success not only for India but the entire world."

Across the Asian continent, tiger populations have been threatened as a result of deforestation, poaching, and human interference with habitats, but India has seen an increase in population numbers with credit to "people's participation" and the country's "culture of conservation".

From 40,000 to 1,411 in less than 60 years

Modi added that 75% of the world's tiger population lives in India.

An estimated 100,000 tigers are said to have lived on the planet in 1900, but in 2010, it dropped to a record low of 3,200. When that shocking revelation hit in 2010, India and 12 other nations home to tiger populations entered a treaty or an agreement to double the tiger numbers by 2022.

When India got its independence from Britain in 1947, it is believed to have been home to nearly 40,000 tigers but it plunged to 3,700 in 2002 and 1,411 in 2006.

In related news, as of last month, a new lion sanctuary is set to be opened in the Indian state of Gujarat after an increase in the number due to successful conservation efforts. The world's only Asiatic lions population can be found in Gir's national park. The park is also the only place, outside Africa, where these lions can be seen in their natural habitat.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... roud-momen

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Supermarkets and Amazon destruction

A recent investigation into the supply chain of Brazilian soya beans used to feed British livestock has found that the UK meat sector and supermarkets it supplies are still contributing to the illegal deforestation of Brazil's Amazon

The investigation by the environmental organizations Mighty Earth, Reporter Brazil, and Ecostorm combined satellite data with on-the-ground observations to show proof of a direct connection between soya beans shipped from Brazil to the UK by US commodities giant Cargill and illegal deforestation in the Amazon.

"If Cargill, the biggest privately-owned US company, wants to be part of the solution to the climate and nature crisis, it needs to source from suppliers farming on previously degraded land, of which there are 1.6 billion acres in Latin America, alone. Not from those who are still torching forests," said Glenn Hurowitz, CEO of Mighty Earth.

In further detail, the report specified that 400 hectares of forest were destroyed last year at Santa Ana farm in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, estimating that the region contained 220,000 trees.

The farm provides soy to Cargill, which distributes the beans to countries all over the world, most notably the UK, through Brazil's Santarem port.

Cargill removed the farm from its list of authorized suppliers in response to a Brazilian probe into prior illegal deforestation on the property; however, the firm reinstated it in 2022.

It is worth noting that Cargill imports over 70% of the soy consumed in the UK, and 75% of that soy originates in Santarem, Brazil.

A vital component of animal feed is soy, especially for hens. Once soya is sent to feed mills, it is nearly impossible to identify any soy that may be connected to unlawful deforestation.

Avara Foods, the largest chicken producer in the UK and a part-owner of Cargill, is one of the UK producers with the most exposure to Brazilian soya. Cargill also provides direct feed supplies to Avara Foods.

Avara supplies many leading supermarkets and suppliers including Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, McDonald's, KFC, and Nando's.

"Our investigation shows Tesco is a basket of problems for the Amazon," said Gemma Hoskins, UK director at Mighty Earth.

"While the UK's top retailer reaps massive profits, it continues to do business with known forest destroyers such as Cargill, adding fuel to the fire of Amazon deforestation, harming the health of local communities, and decimating wildlife and precious habitats," Hoskins added.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... estruction

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Arctic Ice Algae Contaminated

The alga Melosira arctica, which grows under Arctic sea ice, contains ten times as many microplastic particles as the surrounding seawater, according to a study led by the German Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and published on Friday

"We have finally found a plausible explanation for why we always measure the largest amounts of microplastics in the area of the ice edge, even in deep-sea sediment," said Melanie Bergmann, head of the research team.

During an expedition with the research vessel Polarstern in the summer of 2021, the team collected samples of Melosira algae and the surrounding water from ice floes. The samples were then analyzed by the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), Dalhousie University, and the University of Canterbury.

Once entrapped in the algal slime, the microplastics travel "as if in an elevator to the seafloor, or are eaten by marine animals," Deonie Allen of the University of Canterbury and Birmingham University explained.

Because ice algae are an important source of food for many deep-sea organisms, microplastic can enter the food web. An earlier study had already shown that ice algae were also an important food source at the sea surface.

This "could explain why microplastics were particularly widespread among ice-associated zooplankton organisms," AWI said.

As zooplankton is eaten by fish, which in turn are eaten by seabirds, microplastics could also enter the human food chain, the study found. The detailed analysis identified numerous types of plastics in the Arctic, including polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, nylon and acrylic.

"Plastic waste and consequently microplastics are a global problem that no country can tackle alone," a spokesperson of the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) said.

The Artic in particular is suffering from waste carried in from other regions of the world by ocean currents, river systems and air currents. International efforts are needed to start very early in the life cycle of plastic products to prevent waste instead of disposing of it downstream.

Plastic pollution has become a global problem. Of the 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced between 1950 and 2017, approximately 7 billion tonnes ended up as waste in landfills or dumped, according to United Nations estimates.

Back in March 2022, 175 nations agreed at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Arc ... -0013.html

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Africa Fights Rhino Poaching

The International Rhino Foundation Director Nina Fascione urged Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa to deepen regional collaboration in the fight against rhino poaching

She made the appeal in reaction to the recent shooting of four rhinos with two of them dead as a result of the attack by unknown attackers at Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Botswana.

Thato Raphaka, the permanent secretary in Botswana's Ministry of Environment and Tourism, said the incident is concerning since it is coming after Botswana de-horned and moved most of the rhinos further inland to discourage poachers.

The two carcasses were found with their horns intact while the other animals were recovering from gunshot wounds, making it difficult to determine the motive behind the shooting.

She was killed in the night. Another innocent victim of the poaching crisis. Rhino have very poor vision and no real natural predators apart from humans. Blind and vulnerable, she had no reason to run away. pic.twitter.com/6YHWSxBzu2
— Savingwildlife (@Savingwildlife3) April 20, 2023

"The shooting is an act of global criminal syndicates behind poaching. Therefore there is a need to intensify regional collaboration and coordinated global response in the fight against rhino poaching," said Fascione.

Figures released last month suggest that over 200 Botswana's rhinos have died since 2018 because of poaching or natural causes, while 87 rhinos were poached for their horns in Namibia in 2022.

Rhino predation is also observable in other countries. For example, in the South African province of KwaZulu Natal, which holds 25 percent of the world's remaining population of rhinos, poaching has been devastating, the BBC reported, adding that rhinos have also been found shot and dehorned.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Afr ... -0007.html

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State Braces For Big Melt

Roughly 90 percent of California’s snowpack hasn’t melted yet, according to a posted share to Twitter on Friday. And when it does, it could be devastating

The image of California’s mountain ranges, shared by amateur meteorologist Colin McCarthy, was captioned, “The ‘Big Melt’ is ramping up today as one of the biggest snowpacks in California’s history begins to rapidly melt.”

McCarthy’s picture shows three distinct regions across the western shores of the U.S.: the green of California’s replenished landscape, the snow-packed mountains throughout the state, and the desert beyond. Other users shared images under the post of a snow-packed Mammoth mountain, where the levels reached more than double the height of a car.

So, what happens if all this water melts quickly? The simple answer is: flooding. After back-to-back extreme weather events since Christmas 2022, California could face extreme disaster. The snowpack is currently more than 230 percent above normal, according to the Washington Post.

This snowpack will eventually turn into a deluge, descending into California’s many valleys and lowlands, the outlet noted. One region under particular threat is the Central Valley, where a quarter of all food in the U.S. is grown.

The amount of snow that will melt in the coming weeks and months has enough power to cause billions of dollars of damage and loss, and even submerge towns, WaPo argued.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the amount of snow set to melt has produced a high flood danger. The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) has held meetings with experts and federal flood authorities to discuss how best to manage the situation.

In typical California fashion, literally nothing appears to be happening to mitigate the worst impacts of potential flooding. “It’s just a constant coordination and collaborative effort to try to manage the water as best as possible to minimize those impacts to help improve public safety and minimize flooding,” CDRW official Jeremy Arrich told ABC7. (RELATED: Death Toll From Major Storms Rises To At Least 20)

Other officials blamed the uncertainty of climate change for their inaction, according to The Guardian. Apparently the experts have no idea how the snow will melt, despite having plenty of data, models, and variables available to map out potential consequences and plan for the worst catastrophe. It appears Californians will have to just deal with this situation themselves, as they did throughout the storms earlier in 2023.

https://dailycaller.com/2023/04/24/cali ... mountains/

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Antibiotics in farming

According to a study, antibiotics used to increase animal growth generate germs that are more resistant to our body's natural defenses

Scientists have cautioned that the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture has resulted in the creation of germs that are more resilient to the human immune system.

The research implies that the rise of E.coli strains that are more likely to elude the human immune system's first line of defense was caused by the antibiotic colistin, which was used for decades as a growth promoter on pig and poultry farms in China.

Despite the fact that colistin is already prohibited in China and many other nations as a livestock food additive, the research raises concerns about a fresh and serious hazard posed by the abuse of antibiotics.

Prof. Craig MacLean, who oversaw the research at the University of Oxford, said that colistin might be considerably more harmful than antibiotic resistance, and emphasized the peril of using antimicrobials in agriculture carelessly. MacLean believes that in order to make hens bigger, we unintentionally compromised our own immune systems.

The discoveries may also have important ramifications for the creation of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of antibiotics that includes colistin and which the researchers believe may offer a special danger of undermining innate immunity.

The majority of living things make AMPs as part of their innate immune response, which is their first line of defense against infection. Colistin is based on a bacterial AMP, which germs employ to protect themselves against rivals, but it has certain chemical properties with other AMPs made by the human immune system.

Since the 1980s, when colistin was widely used in cattle, colistin-resistant E.coli bacteria have been on the rise. This has led to significant limits on the drug's usage in agriculture. However, the most recent research indicates that the same genes may also make it easier for infections to avoid AMPs, which are essential to our own immune response.

The researchers discovered that MCR-1-positive E. coli had at least two times the resistance to being killed by human serum. When compared to bacteria that lacked the gene, the resistance to human and animal AMPs rose by an average of 62%. The research, which was written up in the journal eLife, also revealed that the resistant E.coli was twice as likely to infect and kill moth larvae when compared to the control E.coli strain.

According to MacLean, it is impossible to predict the effects this would have in the real world. And since China outlawed the use of colistin as a growth promoter, the predominance of these strains of E.coli has sharply decreased, indicating that these genes may have additional "fitness disadvantages" for the pathogens. The results, however, draw attention to a crucial danger that hasn't been fully taken into account.

Deadly superbugs

The risk, according to MacLean, is that if bacteria develop resistance to [AMP-based treatments], they may also develop resistance to a key component of the human immune system.

While MacLean and colleagues do not advocate for halting the development of these medications, they do argue that very rigorous risk evaluations of the chance of resistance developing and any potential repercussions are necessary. There might be some extremely substantial negative effects for AMPs, he noted.

According to Dr. Jessica Blair from Birmingham University, “Antimicrobial peptides, including colistin, have been heralded as a potential part of the solution to the rise of multidrug-resistant infections. This study, however, suggests that resistance to these antimicrobials may have unintended consequences on the ability of pathogens to cause infection and survive within the host.”

Dr. George Tegos of the Mohawk Valley Health System in New York stated that general conclusions regarding the possible hazards of AMPs could not be taken from a single research, but added that the results "raise concerns that are reasonable and make sense".

This new study demonstrates that colistin resistance is likely far more hazardous than previously believed, according to Coiln Nunan, a consultant for the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics who was not involved in the study. The British government's continued opposition to the EU's prohibition on the widespread use of antibiotics for prophylactic purposes in intensive livestock farming is also noteworthy.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/hea ... ne-systems

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Air pollutants kill children

The European Union's Environmental Agency reveals that poor air quality causes more than 1,200 deaths for European children every year after completing a study in over 30 European countries

Poor air quality leads to upwards of 1,200 premature deaths every year in teenagers and children in Europe and aggravates the risk of chronic illness, The European Union's Environmental Agency (EEA) reported on Monday.

The study showed that levels of key air pollutants remain above the World Health Organization's guidelines, specifically in central-eastern Europe and Italy. The EAA conducted its research in more than 30 countries, 27 of which are EU member states.

If the research were to be expanded to industrial states such as the UK, Russia, and Ukraine, the number of deaths caused by air pollution is projected to be much higher.

The agency said in November 2022 that 238,000 people lost their lives prematurely due to deadly amounts of air pollutants in Europe.

"Air pollution causes over 1,200 premature deaths per year in people under the age of 18 in Europe and significantly increases the risk of disease later in life," the agency stated.

The study that focused on children and teenagers showed that "although the number of premature deaths in this age group is low relative to the total for the European population estimated by EEA each year, deaths early in life represent a loss of future potential and come with a significant burden of chronic illness, both in childhood and later in life."

The agency urged governments to work on bettering air quality in areas that house children activities such as schools, nurseries, sports facilities, and mass transport hubs.

The report underlined the effects of air pollution on children's health and pointed to the multiple illnesses it can cause, including asthma, reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and allergies.

Air pollution in numbers

9% of school European children and adolescents covered by the study suffer from asthma which can be aggravated by poor air quality according to the EEA.

Poor air quality can also "aggravate chronic conditions like asthma, which afflicts nine percent of children and adolescents in Europe, as well as increasing the risk of some chronic diseases later in adulthood."

Furthermore, 97% of Urban residents breathe in air that is below WHO's acceptable air quality guidelines.

The agency stated last year that the EU was expected to reach its target of cutting premature deaths by 50% by 2030 as compared to the amounts of deaths in this category in 2005.

In the 90s EU residents were victims of an estimated million premature deaths annually which was reduced to 431,000 deaths in 2005.

Air quality markers in Europe are generally far better than in cities around the world, as the WHO linked more than 7,000,000 deaths every year to air pollution globally, which is almost equivalent to the number of deaths caused by smoking cigarettes and unhealthy diets.

Thailand has witnessed toxic smog in several cities including Chiang Mai, which was ranked by IQAir as the city with the worst air quality globally. Health officials revealed that more than 2.4 million residents requested medical care for issues related to air pollution since the start of the year.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... k-of-illne

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Air pollution heart damage

A new study discovered that increases in air pollution increase the likelihood of cardiac arrhythmias

The study indicated a considerable rise in the incidence of arrhythmias in the first few hours after an increase in air pollution levels, based on over 200,000 hospital admissions in China. Arrhythmias in the heart can raise the risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac death.

Dr Renjie Chen of Fudan University in Shanghai stated that the risks occured "during the first several hours after exposure and could persist for 24 hours.”

Research published last year found a relationship between fine particle air pollution and cardiac arrhythmias in otherwise healthy teens, confirming that this poses a significant health risk. The study also found that the risk of exposure to six contaminants was nearly linear, with no evident safe threshold.

The study comprised 190,115 individuals with abrupt onset arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, premature beats, and supraventricular tachycardia, who were hospitalized to hospitals in 322 Chinese cities. The researchers examined the amounts of six air pollutants from monitoring stations nearest to the reporting hospitals since air pollution in China is significantly over the World Health Organization's standards for air quality.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exhibited the strongest link with all four forms of arrhythmia. The precise impact of air pollution is unknown, although there is some evidence that it promotes oxidative stress and inflammation, which can disrupt the electrical activity of the heart.

“Although the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, the association between air pollution and acute onset of arrhythmia that we observed is biologically plausible,” the authors of the study wrote.

Recent research found that on high-pollution days in England, hundreds more patients are sent to hospitals for emergency care after suffering cardiac arrests, strokes, and asthma attacks. The British Heart Foundation anticipated in 2020 that air pollution-related strokes and heart attacks might kill more than 160,000 people over the next decade.

The health consequences go beyond heart disease, with research indicating that particulate air pollution is increasing lung cancer rates by reactivating dormant mutations that cause tumor growth.

According to the authors, these findings, which were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, underscore the need to protect at-risk patients during periods of high air pollution and to limit total exposure.

Last month, David Boyd, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, told The Guardian that as a result of heavy pollution, "sacrifice zones" have been created across the planet - these zones see plentiful suffering, with millions suffering from strokes, cancers, respiratory problems and heart disease.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... heartbeats

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Iraq desalination plans

The Iraqi government is looking to desalination of seawater as a measure to combat water scarcity as declining water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers spark concern across the country, the prime minister said on Saturday

“The government worked to form a higher council for water, and it is determined to head to the desalination of seawater,” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said during the Third Baghdad International Water Conference.

“Water scarcity is a threat to the culture and civilization of Iraq, and a threat to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, around which the most important civilizations of the world were built,” Sudani added.

Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the United Nations. It is facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation and higher temperatures, and waste and mismanagement. The crisis is worsened by dams upstream in Turkey and Iran that have led to a significant decrease in the volume of water entering the country.

A visit by Sudani to Turkey in March saw measurable success after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to double the water releases in the Tigris River for a period of one month, saying the decision was made “in order to relieve Iraq’s distress.”

“The government has set the water file as one of its priorities, and has taken many policies. And it was necessary to identify the problems with upstream countries so our meetings with the countries emphasized the need to give the full share of water,” Sudani said.

During the conference, Sudani also pleaded for “the efforts of all friends” of the international community to “urgently” assist Iraq counter water insecurity.

In one of the latest stark warnings of the threats a heating climate poses to Iraq, a report by the Ministry of Water Resources late last year predicted that unless urgent action is taken to combat declining water levels, Iraq’s two main rivers will be entirely dry by 2040.

Much of Iraq’s agricultural lands depend on irrigation, but dams and reservoirs were at record-low levels last summer.

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) has long warned that water availability in Iraq will decrease by around 20 percent by 2025, threatening the long-term stability of agriculture and industry sectors.

“The next agricultural plans will be limited to farmers who use modern irrigation methods,” Sudani said at the conference.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/06052023

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25,000 flee fires in Canada

Alberta, Canada, declared a state of emergency on Saturday after 103 wildfires raged throughout the province, forcing 25,000 people to abandon their homes in an "unprecedented" catastrophe, according to a top official

Thousands more have been instructed to be prepared to evacuate at any time.

Little Red River Cree Nation was one of the worst-hit areas where the 1,458-hectare Fox Lake fire burned 20 homes and the area's police station.

The 7,000-people population of Drayton Valley, west of Edmonton, was ordered to evacuate on Thursday.

Just this year, 348 wildfires have occurred so far in Alberta, burning more than 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres), according to Christie Tucker, an information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire.

Premier Danielle Smith addressed a press conference following a meeting of her government's emergency management committee.

"We've declared a provincial state of emergency to protect the safety, health and welfare of Albertans."

Smith had previously stated that the province, which is one of the world's major oil-producing regions, "has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires."

"These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province is facing today," she explained.

According to a federal government fire danger map, almost all of Alberta, which is in the midst of an election, as well as much of adjacent Saskatchewan province and vast swaths of the Northwest Territories, face high fire hazards.

Minister of Government Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair tweeted that Ottawa was ready to give government support if required.

A huge fire destroyed 20 dwellings, a basic shop, and a police station near Fox Lake, some 550 kilometers (340 miles) north of the province capital. Residents were evacuated by aircraft and boat.

According to a federal government fire danger map, almost all of Alberta, which is in the midst of an election, as well as much of adjacent Saskatchewan province and vast swaths of the Northwest Territories, face high fire hazards.

Western Canada has been regularly battered by extreme weather in recent years, the strength and frequency of which have risen owing to global warming.

Forest fires in Canada's oil sands area halted production and displaced 100,000 Fort McMurray residents in 2016, in addition to wreaking havoc on the country's economy.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/env ... ern-canada.

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Oak trees cut down

SHAQLAWA, Kurdistan Region - Unidentified people have cut down dozens of oak trees in the town of Shaqlawa in Erbil province and fled, with locals claiming that the trees are used to produce charcoal for profit

The age of the trues, which were cut down near the property of a school principal, is estimated to be between 25 to 100 years old.

“Once I came, I saw this tree had been cut down along with several other trees, and it seemed like they cut down the trees at night because during daytime there are a lot of people in this area,” said Abdulsamad Ibrahim, the principal of Baraka School. “They cut down around 30 to 40 trees, including big, medium, and small trees.”

Ibrahim decided to file a complaint against those who cut down the trees, believing they were cut to produce charcoal.

In recent years, many trees have been cut down in the Kurdistan Region, some of which are around 100 to 200 years old. Locals and officials in many other parts of the Kurdistan Region, including Erbil province, have warned that the cutting down of trees, mainly old oak trees, is becoming a dangerous phenomenon, especially in the mountainous regions.

“We have opened an investigation file with the judge of Shaqlawa, we will take legal action so that we can penalize the suspects once we have identified them,” Walid Hamakhzr, head of Shaqlawa’s forest and environment police said.

Last year, Shaqlawa’s forest and environment police arrested around 170 people on various charges of harming the environment.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/080520232

[Anthea]

international water conference

A tripartite meeting between Iraq, Turkey, and Iran is set for the near future to discuss the water crisis, as the countries have experienced an alarming decline in water levels over the last few years

Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad on Saturday hosted its third international water conference to discuss growing threats of drought and water scarcity, the effects of climate change, and ways to address such environmental issues.

The conference titled 'Water Scarcity, the Mesopotamian Marshes, Shatt al-Arab Environment, Everyone's Responsibility' was attended by key relevant local and international authorities and experts.

The danger of drought and desertification surrounds Iraq and the region, with the rapid drop in water levels threatening the lives of locals, livestock, and agriculture in general.

"I think the recommendations will be within three basic concepts. The concept of complete management of water resources within the Tigris and Euphrates basins," Khaled Al-Shamali, spokesman of the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources told Rudaw.

Al-Shamali went on to add "The other thing is water security. Iraqi water is the most important pillar of national security for Iraq, and therefore water security means saving the lives of 40 million Iraqis."

Through this conference, Iraq is trying to find alternatives and possible solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change and global warming, and the sustainability of the marsh environment to preserve the ecosystem and biodiversity.

Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the United Nations. It is facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation and higher temperatures, and waste and mismanagement. The crisis is worsened by dams upstream in Turkey and Iran that have led to a significant decrease in the volume of water entering the country.

"Calm diplomatic dialogue, negotiation, and highlighting the urgent need for cooperation based on interests, history, and neighborhood must be pursued," Jassim Al-Falahi, Iraq's deputy minister of the Environment said.

The vision of the two-day conference will include drawing up a policy for managing water resources in line with the challenges of water scarcity in order to provide safe water for communities and ensure the requirements for economic activity.

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) has long warned that water availability in Iraq will decrease by around 20 percent by 2025, threatening the long-term stability of agriculture and industry sectors.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/09052023